bluestratos
New member
I got just a bit over 14K on my back tire, if it had been spring I would have been good for a couple thousand more but as fall has fell I decided to mount my Kumo AST. Pulling the old tire was pretty easy, I put the front wheels up on ramps then jacked up the rear end about 18" off the ground with a large bottle jack and blocks. I took out the two bolts that hold the break caliper in place and suspende the calper assembly to avoid putting strain on the hydraulic line. I put my floor jack under the back tire then took out the lower bolt from the back shock and slid the drive belt off than pulled the axle bit lifting and lowering the tire to get slack on the belt. This took about 1/2 an hour to drop the tire. 15 mins later I had the drive pully off and the hub (you do not need to remove the break disc if you have a flex head ratchet) then I took it to my brother inlaw's tire shop, Zelstra Tire in Lynden WA (bought the tire there as well) and they change the tire for me.
I reinstalled the hub (had to leave the pully off as the wheel ballancer was not wide enough with it on) and then balanced the tire using a Harbour Frieght motorcycle tire balancer which took way too long until I figured out the axle shaft they supplied was slightly bent. I cut a new axle out of some scrap I had on hand and was able to get the balancing done in less than a minute after that. Next came the pully, it was had to slide back into place so I coated the O ring and dampers with a small amount of grease after which it slid back on effortlessly.
Reinstalling the back tire was not bad, I rolled the tire under the bike then put my other floor jack under it and jacked it up until the axle holes lined up then slid the axle in place. The caliper mount has to slide in between the break disc and the bike frame so using the jack this made it easy. Leaving the jack in place I was then able to raise and lower the tire to work the belt back on to the pully then to install the bolt into the shock mount. I lightly torqed the axle nut, removed the jack then started the engine to be sure the belt was sitting correctly on the pully which it was. I then torqued the axle nut to 96 ft/lbs and was off for a test run in the pouring rain.
Excellent test run, the tire stuck like glue to the slick roads, the first rain of the season came the day before and I slid all over the road with my work truck so I was not expecting much. Man was I suprised. I came into a 20 mph corner at 30 expecting at least to feel the Nanny take control but no need. It was raining too hard to go too far but I did get up to 60 for short burst and it was great. I had the tire set at 25lbs air pressure by the way.
So, definately doable for the weekend mechanic. I had all the tools but the only thing you need is a basic set of metric sockets and wrenchs, a size 36 socket and large cresent for the axle nut, torque wrench, flex head retachet (not necessary but helps) jacks and floor ramps. Doing it yourself will save enought to pay for the tools the first them so if necessary, it is still a good way to go. I completed the work alone but some steps would be nice to have a good helper if you have one (my good helper was baby sitting the grand kids, lol... way too much help in this case so I choose to go it alone).
Well thats my story and I am sticking to it, lol...
Regards,
Randy
I reinstalled the hub (had to leave the pully off as the wheel ballancer was not wide enough with it on) and then balanced the tire using a Harbour Frieght motorcycle tire balancer which took way too long until I figured out the axle shaft they supplied was slightly bent. I cut a new axle out of some scrap I had on hand and was able to get the balancing done in less than a minute after that. Next came the pully, it was had to slide back into place so I coated the O ring and dampers with a small amount of grease after which it slid back on effortlessly.
Reinstalling the back tire was not bad, I rolled the tire under the bike then put my other floor jack under it and jacked it up until the axle holes lined up then slid the axle in place. The caliper mount has to slide in between the break disc and the bike frame so using the jack this made it easy. Leaving the jack in place I was then able to raise and lower the tire to work the belt back on to the pully then to install the bolt into the shock mount. I lightly torqed the axle nut, removed the jack then started the engine to be sure the belt was sitting correctly on the pully which it was. I then torqued the axle nut to 96 ft/lbs and was off for a test run in the pouring rain.
Excellent test run, the tire stuck like glue to the slick roads, the first rain of the season came the day before and I slid all over the road with my work truck so I was not expecting much. Man was I suprised. I came into a 20 mph corner at 30 expecting at least to feel the Nanny take control but no need. It was raining too hard to go too far but I did get up to 60 for short burst and it was great. I had the tire set at 25lbs air pressure by the way.
So, definately doable for the weekend mechanic. I had all the tools but the only thing you need is a basic set of metric sockets and wrenchs, a size 36 socket and large cresent for the axle nut, torque wrench, flex head retachet (not necessary but helps) jacks and floor ramps. Doing it yourself will save enought to pay for the tools the first them so if necessary, it is still a good way to go. I completed the work alone but some steps would be nice to have a good helper if you have one (my good helper was baby sitting the grand kids, lol... way too much help in this case so I choose to go it alone).
Well thats my story and I am sticking to it, lol...
Regards,
Randy
